Desert Island Synth

I’m trying to find a single ‘desert island’ synth that can decently cover as wide a range of sound types as is possible in a single synth. Probably analog, though maybe some kind of hybrid. In any case I really just want one synth that I can really focus on and get to grips with so... what’s the most versatile iOS synth out there?

@zeroG
I get where you are coming from. Lately I've had thoughts I should delete half the stuff on my iPad just toward that end - learn a couple of apps well and actually record/finish ideas. The whole range of choices app collecting offers seems to be becoming more distracting than productive, as I'll spend an hour trying all the chorus fx apps.... just makes me think of when getting a new fx or synth was a piece of hardware, costing plenty - that was going to be my one reverb, or synth, or workstation. There was no doubt about learning the thing inside out. And when recording/gigging I would know how to get what I wanted with what I had. Certainly can't say that's where I'm now with all these choices I have on this little glass tablet.

But in terms of your question - though you mention "probably analog and maybe hybrid", you may need to add some adjectives there for relevant opinions... edgy analog, evolving,, whether you lean towards basses or pads, etc.... or perhaps suggest a range of genres sound wise that might clarify what you would picture yourself recording on this island (which I'd presume has a fantastic renewable power source, and a kicking PA run your iPad through).

I included only one Beepstreet, only the newest Yonac, an FM, probably too many wavetable style, no modulars (though they like SunVox are probably the ultimate desert island type, if you’re into it...). No digital emulations of analog classics included, though that may be the purist’s desert island route: iMini, iProphet, iWavestation, iM1, iMono/Poly, iPolysix, iM-20....

but I think each of these is an attempt to be a desert island or bread and butter instrument, capable of pads leads bass drum etc

@Littlewoodg said:
After SunVox, which is for me also a desert island DAW-

I included only one Beepstreet, only the newest Yonac, an FM, probably too many wavetable style, no modulars (though they like SunVox are probably the ultimate desert island type, if you’re into it...). No digital emulations of analog classics included, though that may be the purist’s desert island route: iMini, iProphet, iWavestation, iM1, iMono/Poly, iPolysix, iM-20....

but I think each of these is an attempt to be a desert island or bread and butter instrument, capable of pads leads bass drum etc

@Littlewoodg said:
After SunVox, which is for me also a desert island DAW-

I included only one Beepstreet, only the newest Yonac, an FM, probably too many wavetable style, no modulars (though they like SunVox are probably the ultimate desert island type, if you’re into it...). No digital emulations of analog classics included, though that may be the purist’s desert island route: iMini, iProphet, iWavestation, iM1, iMono/Poly, iPolysix, iM-20....

but I think each of these is an attempt to be a desert island or bread and butter instrument, capable of pads leads bass drum etc

One of the best bass sound machines for variety ever! Covers all other types of sounds from wind to strings to synth leads. Each of its wavetables ‘OSCs’ can be it’s own sound, so layered sounds are covered.

The save system gives the ability to email banks of your own sounds for that all important backup, with no external computer needed.

One of the best systems (once learned) for creating presets. It’s sort of semi random and really gives you the ability to get presets of any type going quickly.

While an out and out digital synth, it does have a great sounding filter. Like the PPG hardware synths, this sound synthesis is as adept at making synthetic sounds as it is at emulation of some real would sounds (for a non sampling instrument). Bells, flutes, bass, organs, stringedetc etc it’s all their once you know how - and that’s it’s only down side for some - the learning curve for some may be a little more than your average synth. I’m not saying it’s difficult to learn - it is not. WaveMapper comes at things from a different mindset and hence for some my seem alien initially. Once you put in the effort though, it uses surprisingly simple methods for all things really and soon what once seemed complex, becomes so easy to use.

Did I say it has the best basses? Yeah I probably did lol. Why? Because bass sounds are more complex to emulate than many think - Wave table synths have the ability to put a sense of movement into sounds and with three wavetable ‘OSCs’ in WaveMapper, making the individual sounds that make up a stringed sound easy to gel together.

WaveMapper has little in the way of fx. Yeah it can put a little delay in the mix, but just add external fx of choice to make your sounds shine. The website also includes many banks of sounds (it will play WaveGenerator banks too).

So adaptable WaveMapper would make a better President or PM than most of our countries have lol - vote for WaveMapper

@oat_phipps said:
Zeeon was the one that finally made me stop caring about getting every new synth that came out. I’m gonna go with that.

+1

Zeeon covers a huge territory and it just keeps growing on me. Adding Synthmaster ONE I believe these two will make a great and flexible tandem and my go-to-synths for the foreseeable future. I might keep some apps modelling vintage classics like the iMini by Arturia just for fun but I am VERY close to deleting many synth apps just to focus on a chosen few. They restrict my creativity! There are TOO many choices and as others have said, I get stuck just trying things out. I do not believe in the "one-to-rule-them-all"-theory but I do believe a well thought-out app collection of lets says five synth apps tops will be enough to keep me busy for a long long time.

Until the next app surfaces and I have to...... no, not going there now:-).

I so much want to buy hardware with myriads of tweaking buttons but when I see the huge sonic possibilities already inside my iPad, and considering the costs and the space they would take I just can´t condone this. I am amateur playing around and as much as I love to get new gear and apps I am just scratching the surface of what I already got.

@Littlewoodg said:
After SunVox, which is for me also a desert island DAW-

I included only one Beepstreet, only the newest Yonac, an FM, probably too many wavetable style, no modulars (though they like SunVox are probably the ultimate desert island type, if you’re into it...). No digital emulations of analog classics included, though that may be the purist’s desert island route: iMini, iProphet, iWavestation, iM1, iMono/Poly, iPolysix, iM-20....

but I think each of these is an attempt to be a desert island or bread and butter instrument, capable of pads leads bass drum etc

One of the best bass sound machines for variety ever! Covers all other types of sounds from wind to strings to synth leads. Each of its wavetables ‘OSCs’ can be it’s own sound, so layered sounds are covered.

The save system gives the ability to email banks of your own sounds for that all important backup, with no external computer needed.

One of the best systems (once learned) for creating presets. It’s sort of semi random and really gives you the ability to get presets of any type going quickly.

While an out and out digital synth, it does have a great sounding filter. Like the PPG hardware synths, this sound synthesis is as adept at making synthetic sounds as it is at emulation of some real would sounds (for a non sampling instrument). Bells, flutes, bass, organs, stringedetc etc it’s all their once you know how - and that’s it’s only down side for some - the learning curve for some may be a little more than your average synth. I’m not saying it’s difficult to learn - it is not. WaveMapper comes at things from a different mindset and hence for some my seem alien initially. Once you put in the effort though, it uses surprisingly simple methods for all things really and soon what once seemed complex, becomes so easy to use.

Did I say it has the best basses? Yeah I probably did lol. Why? Because bass sounds are more complex to emulate than many think - Wave table synths have the ability to put a sense of movement into sounds and with three wavetable ‘OSCs’ in WaveMapper, making the individual sounds that make up a stringed sound easy to gel together.

WaveMapper has little in the way of fx. Yeah it can put a little delay in the mix, but just add external fx of choice to make your sounds shine. The website also includes many banks of sounds (it will play WaveGenerator banks too).

So adaptable WaveMapper would make a better President or PM than most of our countries have lol - vote for WaveMapper

Nicely done. It's this kind of considered response that makes me go back and realize that it's probably me not it

@Littlewoodg said:
After SunVox, which is for me also a desert island DAW-

I included only one Beepstreet, only the newest Yonac, an FM, probably too many wavetable style, no modulars (though they like SunVox are probably the ultimate desert island type, if you’re into it...). No digital emulations of analog classics included, though that may be the purist’s desert island route: iMini, iProphet, iWavestation, iM1, iMono/Poly, iPolysix, iM-20....

but I think each of these is an attempt to be a desert island or bread and butter instrument, capable of pads leads bass drum etc

Shout out also to Poison 202, Lorentz, iTuttle...

Nice selection! How do you feel about Infinite?

Infinite is a stunner, and I’m only slowly coming to terms with its majesty. I would have put all the PPGs in the box...of the 4 I use Phonem and WaveMapper the most. My survey above was a try at finding the versatile/desert island stuff per the OP, among the 100+ of my “closest friends”